Japanese leader calls woman’s murder, allegedly by U.S. Marine in Okinawa, “heinous crime” as outrage spreads

October 5, 2026 / 5:52 AM EDT / CBS/AFP

A woman's murder allegedly committed by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa is a "heinous crime," Japan's premier said on Monday, as the new accusation of violence involving American forces sparked public outrage.

Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-run and drunk-driving incidents by U.S. personnel have long sparked protests on the island, which bears a disproportionate burden of hosting about 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan.

The new case involves a U.S. Marine stationed on Okinawa who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in the city of Naha and stealing her wallet, police said on Sunday.

The suspect has denied the allegations.

Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media outlets, citing investigation sources, reported that CCTV footage from near the scene showed a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings.

Police then found a 20-year-old man who matched the description of the suspect seen in the footage and asked him to accompany them voluntarily to a local police station, where he was arrested, NHK reported.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers the government has lodged a strong protest with…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/